Combination dust-pan and broom-holder.



PATENTED NOV; 5, 1907.

0. H. LYONS. COMBINATION DUST PAN AND BROOM HOLDER.

CHARLES HODGE LYONS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

COMBINATION DUST-PAN AND BROOM-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed September 8, 1906. Serial No. 333,829.

broom holders, and one of the principal objects of the I same is to provide a device of this character with a pivoted end gate at the back of the dust pan for preventing the sweepings from being swept through the dust pan and at the same time to provide an opening in said gate for the foot of the user in holding the dust pan in position to receive the sweepings.

Another object is to provide a device of this character with a pivoted end gate which can be swung up against the lower surface of the bottom of the dust pan when it is desired to use the device as a broom holder and to provide a wire loop as a hanger for the holder, said wire loop being secured to the dust pan and extended to form spring arms for holding the end gate in its two positions.

The objects referred to are attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined dust pan and broom holder with a broom arranged therein and the device suspended from a nail or hook to serve as a broom holder. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device in position to be used as a dust pan. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device with the parts arranged in position to be used as a dust pan. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the same showing in dotted lines the position of the end gate when the device is used as a broom holder.

Referring to the drawing for a more particular description of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the body portion of the dust pan provided with a downwardly bent front edge 2 and curled overhanging side portions 3. The body portion of the dust pan tapers from the front to the rear, and the bottom portion of the dust pan at its central portion is curled to form a tubular bearing 4 for a cross bar 5 formed upon the end gate 6. An opening 7 is formed centrally in the end gate to permit the foot of the user to be inserted therein to lift or move the dust pan when in use. Secured to the lower surface of the dust pan is a wire loop 8, said wire loop being bent outward from the bottom of the dust pan to serve as a suspending loop when the device is used a broom holder. This wire loop is secured by means of rivets 9 and keepers 10 to the dust pan, and the wire is extended backward to form spring arms, said spring arms being bent at right angles, as at 12, and extended through slots 13 in the end gate for holding the end gate 6 in its two positions, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. 4.

About one inch back from the front edge of the dust pan, where it rests on the floor, the bottom of the dust pan is abruptly depressed about one fourth of an inch as at 2", with depression sloping backward, and running across the face of the dust pan, from side to side. This is designed to prevent the dust, or round objects from slipping or rolling back to the floor while the dust pan is inclined in position for collectingsweepings.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the end gate serves as a support for the dust pan, and in swinging the end gate upon the bearing 4 the spring arms 11 bent outward from the (lust pan, as shown in Fig. 3, and when the end gate is swung to the dotted line position the arms 11 bear against the end gate to hold it in that position. When the device is to be used as a broom holder the broom is inserted within the dust pan in the position shown in Fig. l, and the loop 8 is engaged with an ordinary nail or hook upon the wall or other support. The device is of a simple character, can be manufactured at a comparatively slight cost, is strong and durable and efficient in use and can be quickly converted from a dust pan to a broom holder whenever required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:-

In a dust pan having bottom and side walls and being open at front and back, a rear closure or end gate consisting of a flat plate pivoted intermediate its sides to the rear edge of the bottom, said back plate having elongated slots cut therein on-each side of, below, and extending transversely to the pivotal axis thereof, and springs each attached to the underside of the bottom of the pan at one end and having its free end extending through one of the said slots and bent laterally to form a stop, whereby the back plate is held either in position to form a rear closure for the pan or against the bottom of the pan so as to leave the rear end thereof open.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES HODGE LYONS.

Witnesses James A. PLOTNER, CATHERINE CHASE. 

